Gettin' in Over My Head

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Gettin' in Over My Head
Studio album by Brian Wilson
Released	22 June 2004
Recorded	sporadically 2002 – 2004 (except Carl Wilson's vocal on "Soul Searchin'": circa 1996)
Genre	Rock
Length	53:08
Label	Brimel Records/ Rhino Records
Producer	Brian Wilson
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Brian Wilson chronology
Pet Sounds Live (2002) Gettin' in Over My Head (2004) Smile (2004)

Gettin' in Over My Head is Brian Wilson's seventh solo album, and fourth of new studio material. It was recorded over a period of several years and, making use of many previously-written songs never before released, was issued in mid-2004 on Rhino Records.

Featuring celebrity guests, such as Paul McCartney, Elton John, Eric Clapton and the late Carl Wilson, Gettin' in Over My Head received satisfactory reviews upon release but was not commercially successful. In his first ever collaboration with Brian Wilson, pop art icon and Sgt. Pepper artist Sir Peter Blake created the cover art and assigned 2004 Smile artist Mark London to art direct the rest of the package.

Firstly, more than a few reviewers took note of the fact that all but one of the songs were not new; "Make a Wish", "Fairy Tale", "Rainbow Eyes" and "Don't Let Her Know She's an Angel" all hail from the 1990/1991 sessions from the abandoned Sweet Insanity album, though they were newly re-recorded, and "Desert Drive" is based around riffs over 40 years old . In addition, Wilson's voice was not as steady as on previous releases (going out of pitch in certain harmonic moments), and his insistence on doing almost all of the backing vocals himself was not a good notion. Finally, with the concurrent live performances of the recently completed Smile album, and the announcement of its impending issue on CD, it completely overshadowed Gettin' in Over My Head's release, with all attention going to the former.

Although generally not considered Brian Wilson's finest release, most fans feel that Gettin' in Over My Head does have its share of moments to commend it.

[edit] Track listing

1. "How Could We Still Be Dancin'?" (Brian Wilson/Joe Thomas) – 4:42
   • Featuring Elton John on lead vocals
2. "Soul Searchin' " (Brian Wilson/Andy Paley) – 4:07
   • Recorded by The Beach Boys in 1996, but discarded. This version features Carl Wilson on lead vocals
3. "You've Touched Me" (Brian Wilson/Steve Kalinich) – 3:21
4. "Gettin' in Over My Head" (Brian Wilson/Andy Paley) – 4:27
5. "City Blues" (Brian Wilson/Scott Bennett) – 4:20
   • Features Eric Clapton on electric guitar
6. "Desert Drive" (Brian Wilson/Andy Paley) – 3:34
7. "A Friend Like You" (Brian Wilson/Steve Kalinich) – 3:37
   • Features Paul McCartney on co-lead vocal
8. "Make a Wish" (Brian Wilson) – 3:49
9. "Rainbow Eyes" (Brian Wilson) – 4:06
10. "Saturday Morning In The City" (Brian Wilson/Andy Paley) – 2:53
11. "Fairy Tale" (Brian Wilson/David Foster) – 5:28
12. "Don't Let Her Know She's an Angel" (Brian Wilson) – 4:17
    • Tracks 8, 9 and 12 originally recorded for the scrapped Sweet Insanity album in 1990/1991
13. "The Waltz" (Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks) – 4:09

Gettin' in Over My Head (Brimel/Rhino R2 76471) hit #100 in the US during a chart stay of 1 week. It reached #53 in the UK.

[edit] Sources

• AllMusicGuide.com

v • d • e Brian Wilson Studio albums Brian Wilson · I Just Wasn't Made for These Times · Orange Crate Art (with Van Dyke Parks) · Imagination · Gettin' in Over My Head · Smile Other albums Live at the Roxy Theatre · Pet Sounds Live · What I Really Want for Christmas Related articles The Beach Boys · Sweet Insanity · Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford · Carnie Wilson · Wendy Wilson